Follow UsRohit Sharma showcased one of the greatest individual performances in the ICC World Cup 2019, in which his 648 runs, including five centuries, were the major reason behind India scampering through the league phase in a canter. In what is going to be his final World Cup in a month’s time, Rohit will finally lead the side and have a great opportunity to end India’s nine-year trophy drought.
After averaging over 50 for each year since 2013, Rohit’s run-scoring appetite has gone down a decent bit since 2021, but for India to stand out in 2023 World Cup, he will have to take the bull by its horns. And he understands that much better.
"For me, it is important how I keep myself relaxed and not worry about external factors that play a role, whether positively or not negatively," Rohit told PTI.
"I want to shut out everything. I want to get into the phase I was in before the 2019 World Cup. I was in a great frame of mind and prepared really well for the tournament. I was in good shape, a good mindset. I want to bring that back and I have time to do that. Trying to recollect what were the right things that I was doing before the 2019 World Cup as a cricketer and as a person. I want to revisit that thought process of mine."
A World Cup victory will potentially etch his name among the pantheon of legendary captains, something that eluded Virat Kohli in the 2019 World Cup, but the Mumbaikar is not too fussed about it.
"I am not the person who thinks about what kind of legacy I will leave behind. My legacy will be for people to judge and talk about, not for me to say. I am not a firm believer in numbers. You should be happy and enjoy the time you have in front of you and try to live in that moment.”
After doing a lot of experimentation in the last one year or so, India have zeroed in on a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, which will further come down to 15 members in the ICC World Cup. One of the significant exclusions was the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal, but Rohit defended the selection saying they have communicated it properly with the excluded players.
"While picking the best combination, there will be guys who will miss out for various reasons and Rahul bhai and I have tried our best to explain to the players why they are not in the squad," he said. "We have tried to communicate with the players after every selection and playing XI that has been announced. We talk to them face-to-face, one-on-one why they have not been picked.
"Sometimes I try to put myself in their shoes. When I wasn't picked in 2011, it was such a heart-breaking moment for me and I felt what's left after being dropped from a World Cup squad. If anyone misses out, there is a reason for it. If you are the unlucky one, we can do nothing."